News

2016 News

Dr John Ashworth, former Chief of Anesthesia at the Hamilton Civic Hospitals, passed away at St. Peter's Hospital, Hamilton on September 16, 2016 in his 88th year. He was predeceased by his wife June Kathleen Ashworth, and son Andrew John Ashworth. He is survived by his sons Dominic, Stephen and Timothy, his brother Peter, and six grandchildren Maria, Christina, Leslie, Emma, Kristen, and Ethan.

Dr Ashworth was a member of the anesthesia community in Hamilton when McMaster Medical School arrived. He had graduated in medicine at St. Bartholomews Hospital, London, England in 1955 and served in the British Army from 1947-1949. Following discharge from the army he served as house physician in three different hospitals in England before coming to Canada in 1958. Appointed staff physician at the Mountain Sanatorium in Hamilton in 1958, his job included giving anesthetics for thoracoplasty. He became interested in the field, completed studies at the University of Toronto and returned to join the Anesthesia Department at the Hamilton General Hospital in 1962.

When Dr. Don Catton formed the Academic Department of Anesthesia in 1971 Dr Ashworth was one of several Hamilton clinicians who participated. His initial scepticism about the approach to self-directed learning became enthusiasm as he was exposed to it, and his tutoring experience led him to become the Director of the Mixed internship program in 1979. His involvement continued and his file has several letters to the Deans of the era commenting upon the risks inherent in supporting academic activity through reallocation of clinical earnings- prescient in light of the current achievements in Alternate Funding Plans.

He was an excellent and diligent clinician, and provided leadership for his clinical and academic departments during his career. Many of us saw him for the last time at the retirement for Drs DeGraft-Johnson and Bell, where he and Ron Brown were prominent attendees. He will be missed.

Candice is the recipient of the Royal College International Conference on Residency Education (ICRE) 2016 Program Administrator Award for Innovation and Excellence. Candice has been the Program Administrator for the Anesthesia Residency Program at McMaster University for two years, and brings 13 years of experience in postgraduate medical education in the role. She has been, and continues to be a critical resource for residents, faculty and her program director.

Professor Emeritus Ron Browne passed away peacefully at the Brantford General Hospital on Friday, April 15th, 2016 at the age of 87 years. Beloved husband of Margaret for 64 years. Loving father of Ronald, Elizabeth and Michael and his wife Faye. Cherished grandpa of Coral and Austin. Dear brother of Lorna and Oliver. Predeceased by his brother Phillip. Also survived by nieces Patricia, Joy and Karen, and nephews Jeffrey and James. Predeceased by nephew John.

Born on June 2, 1928, Dr Brown was a Barbadian- Canadian physician, trained at Aberdeen University, the Hull Group of hospitals in Yorkshire, Liverpool University, and the University College Hospital of West Indies, Jamaica before receiving his FFARCS (Eng) and subsequently his LMCC (1966) and FRCPC, Anesthesia (1972) for Canadian practice. He was an active staff member at the Hamilton Civic Hospitals beginning in 1965, serving as Head of service for the General division from 1980-1990. He joined the Geographic Full Time anesthesia faculty soon after the medical school arrived, and served throughout the remainder of his career. This included a period as Acting Chair of the Department of Anesthesia at McMaster University 1984-85. He was appointed Professor in 1986, a notable achievement for a faculty member with a primarily clinical interest, as the idea of a clinician educator had yet to be fully realized within the University as a whole. The promotion was in recognition of his consistent service in education subsequent to the arrival of the medical school, and his research activities which again were unusual for someone whose practice was primarily clinical. He was particularly interested in risks of exposure to disease for operating room personnel and studied the prevalence of hepatitis B antibody in anesthesiologists and operating room personnel with colleagues Max Chernesky and Peter Rondi, in Canada and the West Indies. In reviewing the letters of support for his promotion to Professor, it is clear that he was universally respected by surgeons, administrators and anesthesia colleagues as a calm, caring and extremely competent individual whose demeanour contributed greatly to ensuring good relations between the newly established University health care community and the existing practitioners, who embraced the academic opportunities afforded by the arrival of the new medical school, and who carried out a long and rewarding career with good grace and enjoyment. It was always a pleasure to have Dr Brown come to a departmental event, whether the retirement of one of his recruits, the annual Chair’s garden part or the 40th anniversary of the University Department several years ago. His contributions are much appreciated and he will be missed.

Congratulations to Brent MacLellan and Joshua Peachey, PGY4's who won the Dr. Fred Baxter Award for Excellence in Nephrology and Patient Care

Congratulations to Dr. Daniel Cordovani who has been named the recipient of the Teaching Award in the Anaesthesia Clerkship by the Class of 2016

Congratulations to Dr. Caitlin VanDeCappelle and Dr. Natalie Lidster on being selected as recipients of the Postgraduate Medical Education Research Grant Award for 2016

April 2016

Congratulations to Dr. Norm Buckley, recipient of a 12.5 million grant to lead the Chronic Pain Network under Canada's Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) initiative! The Chronic Pain Network is a national collaboration of patients, researchers, healthcare professionals, educators and government policy advisors to direct new research and increase care for chronic pain. This achievement will further Dr. Buckley's leadership in improving chronic pain care in Canada.

Congratulations to Dr. Joel Hamstra who is the recipient of the 2016 John Bradley Young Educator Award from the Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society! This prestigious national award recognizes excellence and effectiveness in anesthesia education and is a testament to Joel’s outstanding contributions!

2015 News

Congratulations to Dr. David Lagrotteria who won the presigious, McMaster Clerkship Preceptor Award and the McMaster Excellence in Teaching Clerskhip Award

June 2015

Congratulations to Dr. Kan Ma who received the 2015
PARO Teaching Award for Senior Residents.

June 12, 2015

Congratulations to Dr. Suzanne Todd (PGY5) for receiving the Outstanding Resident Award for Anesthesia and will be receiving her award on June 12, 2015 at the Annual Dinner & Awards 2015.

February 2015

Congratulations to Dr. Kan Ma, PGY3 resident who is the winner of the 2015 PAIRO (PARO) Resident Teaching Award for McMaster University.

January 16, 2015

Congratulations to Dr. Annemaria DeTina who is the receipient of the 2014 Best Resident in Anesthesia. She will be recieving her award at the Annual Medical Staff Dinner Meeting on June 16, 2015.

January 26, 2015

Congratulations to Dr. Harsha Shanthanna who is the Recipient of the CIHR Randomized Controlled Trials: Mentoring Program Award under the mentorship of Drs. Lehane Thabane and PJ Devereaux. This competitive award is given based on the potential of the candidate to develop as a future leader who can direct the conception, design and implementation of randomized controlled trial research.

2014 News

Congratulations to Dr Fred Baxter has been awarded the 2015 Canadian Anesthesia Society Clinical Practitioner Award. This prestigious national award recognises “excellence on clinical anesthesia practice” and acknowledges his leadership and many contributions to the practice of clinical anesthesia in Canada. Fred will receive his award on Monday June 22 2015 at the Awards Ceremony at the Annual CAS Meeting.

Nov. 11, 2014

Congratulations to Dr. Phil Chan and Dr. Mauricio Forero who have recently obtained their international certification of “Fellow of Interventional Pain Practice” under the auspices of the World Institute of Pain.

Nov. 5, 2014

Congratulations to Dr. Jessica Spence (PGY3) who has been accepted into the Clinician Investigator Program starting July 2015 –June 2016

Congratulations to Dr. Mike Parrish who has been awarded the 2014 Teaching Award in the Anesthesia Clerkship by the MD Class of 2014!

May 1, 2014

Congratulations to Dr. Harsha Shanthanna on his 2014 CAS Research Program, AbbVie New Investigator Award in Anesthesia, for his study entitled Most Effective Opioid Analgesia in Ambulatory Surgeries: a randomized control, investigator blinded, parallel group with superiority of Morphine versus Hydromorphone.

Dr. Karen Raymer launches the first anesthesia e-book for undergraduate students! "Understanding Anesthesia: A Learner's Guide" is an interactive electronic textbook that includes videos, slideshows, interactive figures and quizzes, developed by Dr. Karen Raymer in collaboration with Drs. R. Kolesar and E. Brown (medical student). It is designed for medical students for anesthesia clerkship rotations or electives. It is available free of charge at the Understanding Anesthesia website.

2012 News

The Department of Anesthesia 40th Anniversary Gala Celebration at Liuna Station was a resounding success! With 186 past and current faculty, alumi, residents, and staff, the evening was a wonderful opportunity to get together and celebrate the Department's enduring history, people and successes. Special thanks to Mary Gahagan, Drs. Joanna Reiber, Alena Skrinskas and Michele Capello for organizing this great event! Read more about it in the upcoming newsletter!

Dr. Michael Cousins, internationally renown Professor of
Anesthesia and pain care expert at the University of Sydney, visits the
Department of Anesthesia and receives an honorary degree from the Faculty of
Health Sciences at McMaster University.